Hughes and Karavis shine in Rother Valley

21st July 2012

Nathan Hughes and Albert Karavis shone as they took gold in Rother Valley at the 2012 British Gas ASA Open Water Age Group Nationals.

The morning races began as swimmers took the first plunge in the 1500m age group mixed race. Hatfield swimmer Nathan Hughes took gold in the boys 12 years age race with a time of 19:24, the fastest swim of the morning. Wandsworth swimmer George Brown took the silver medal in a time of 21:01, just pipped in front of bronze medallist Luke Parker (City of Ellesmere) 21:03.

Nova Centurion’s Rosanna Barraclough gained victory for the girls showing impressive stamina, with a finishing time of 20:30. Northampton’s Sarah Branch just missed out on gold by 0.12 of a second to clench silver in (20:42) and Kate Hadley sealed her bronze medal swimming 21:04.

Charlie Humphries (Nova Centurion) (19:46) fought for gold medal spot in the boys 13 years age group. Burnley Bobcats swimmer Tomas Hamer and South Ayreshire’s Patrick Smith both swam with passion to the finish to clinch second and third place. Hamer just pipped in front to take silver in (20:16) followed closely behind Smith in a time of 20:22.

The girls proved just as fast, BOSSC swimmer Bethan McElroy dominated the race in 19:53. BOBC silver medallist Ella Sheridan fought hard alongside McElroy in a close finish with a time of 19:57. Bronze medal went to Northampton swimmer Rose Foden (20:12).

The boys 14 years age group was a close and nailbiting finish for gold, silver and bronze position. Albert Karavis (Windsor) struck gold in a time of 19:25. Cockermouth swimmer Thomas Millburn sealed his silver medal in 19:34, just in front of Gloucester’s Alexander Chantler-Mayne (19:39).

The final race of the morning saw Ealing’s Erin Nabney swim to podium position in a time of 19:35. Nicole Ryan (Windsor) declared silver medal finishing in 19:51 just in front of City of Sunderland’s Laura Taylor.